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As we recently detailed, Governor Newsom’s Trailer Bill would amend California’s cannabis statutes in significant ways, such as extending provisional licensing beyond January 1, 2020. The Trailer Bill also would extend another key deadline discussed in our last CEQA blog post: the July 1, 2019 cutoff to a CEQA exemption for cities and counties. …

A woman in her sixties came to attorney McElfresh after being charged with shoplifting for attempting to take a $20 lipstick. Facing probation and a fine, San Diego shoplifting lawyer Jessica McElfresh negotiated for her to only receive a $300 fine and no probation. The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of…

by Omar Figueroa, May 13, 2019 On May 10, 2019, the State of California Department of Finance released the language of the Trailer Bill for this year’s Governor’s Budget. The Trailer Bill contains numerous provisions relating to Cannabis. This blog post will focus on the Trailer Bill’s provisions pertaining to provisional licenses. California’s regulatory framework for cannabis…

Recently, a client came to McElfresh Law after his second probation violation for failing to report. He was on probation for assault with a deadly weapon and was having some issues complying with probation. With this charge, he faced four years in prison. However, attorney McElfresh convinced the court to release him into a sober…

Not long ago, a man with a prior misdemeanor indecent exposure conviction from over 30 years ago came to McElfresh Law after being charged again with two felonies for indecent exposure and two misdemeanors for molesting and annoying a child. This time, he allegedly exposed himself on two different occasions to two young girls. One…

May 1, 2019 – On April 30, 2019 the California Department of Food & Agriculture announced that applications to lawfully cultivate hemp pursuant to the state’s industrial hemp law are now available. This follows the Office of Administrative Law (OAL)’s recent adoption of the regulation dealing with industrial hemp registration fees. Cultivators of hemp must…

Both inexperienced and savvy investors are becoming more comfortable with the idea of investing in the cannabis industry in the U.S. and Canada. In fact, the potential significant return on investment (ROI) has the opportunity dubbed “the green rush.” Investors may be able to seek a strong ROI in the cannabis industry; however, you should…

NBC 7 San Diego: April 5, 2019 – More than two dozen local governments are suing the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) over the current recreational marijuana law. The cities in counties involved in the suit want to stop marijuana deliveries from coming into their communities. Under the current recreational and medical marijuana law,…

Since California has legalized medical and recreational marijuana use, the state has had to build a new industry, including comprehensive regulations and licensing procedures. As licenses are issued for marijuana businesses, there is an expanding gap between lawful and illegal cannabis operations. Farms, processing facilities, and stores that lack the proper license or fail to…

By Associate Attorney Lauren Mendelsohn April 8, 2019 Last week, the Commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Scott Gottlieb, M.D., issued a press release regarding the FDA’s current standpoint with regards to cannabinoids including CBD. In the press release, the FDA states that interest in products containing cannabis derivatives such as…

NBC 7 San Diego: January 3, 2019 – It has been a year since California has legalized recreational marijuana, which established the budding industry. While dispensary sales are a little lower than initial projections, San Diego still brought in about millions from cannabis business taxes in 2018 and hopes to make $500 thousand more than…

“The year of stability.” That’s what Lindsay Robinson, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association, is hoping 2019 will become in the Golden State. And it very well could play out that way, especially compared to the roller-coaster turbulence California's cannabis market experienced in 2018. But there are many who would scoff at that…